Opinion on PM Manmohan Singh divides Team Anna

Prominent Team Anna member Justice Santosh Hegde blew hot and cold over the chargesheet prepared by his colleagues against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 14 other cabinet ministers — accusing them of corruption.

Though Justice Hegde expressed unhappiness over his colleagues in Team Anna using strong language against the Prime Minister and some other ministers, hours later, he appeared to have toned down his objections.

“I am a member of Team Anna, and I am against corruption, but I am an individual and will never become a slave to anybody,” Justice Hegde said.

“I have the right to object to what I don’t agree with. I have objected to the statement of Prashant Bhushan using the word ‘Shikhandi’ for the Prime Minister,” he added.

“Prashant has already clarified that he did not use this word against the Prime Minister, but had only said that Manmohan Singh has been used like Shikhandi… But I don’t want to be a party to such statements,” the former Karnataka lokayukta said.

“I don’t know about the corruption charges against 15 ministers and I am not responsible for anybody’s statement on the issue. As for foreign minister SM Krishna, I did not find any proof against him during my investigation into illegal mining,” Justice Hegde said. “When I spoke to Prashant, he told me he has several documents that the Lokayukta did not get during the investigations. If so, yes, well and good. But I am not a party to his statement, which I am not sure about. And I am unaware of any such documents.”

In Delhi, co-team member Arvind Kejriwal said all the relevant documents will be provided to Hazare and Justice Hegde. “We will have a detailed discussion with all the team members who are not in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.